Royston Vasey to hit the big screen

Filming for the much-anticipated "League of Gentlemen" film is due to begin in the autumn.

17:09 31 March 2004

Filming for the much-anticipated "League of Gentlemen" film is due to begin in the autumn, after a number of financial "stumbling blocks" were overcome.

The BBC comedy has long been tipped to build on its highly successful television series by moving to the cinemas, and it now appears the final arrangements will be made by Easter.

Steve Pemberton, who plays Tubbs in the show, admitted that there had been concerns about securing enough money to get the go-ahead, but that the situation was now looking much rosier.

"Hopefully we'll be filming it in September and October. I think the financial deal will all be sorted out by Easter but I'm totally confident we'll make it this year," the 36-year-old actor told TV Plus.

"Hopefully this time next year it will be in cinemas. It will be an amazing achievement because the finance has been the main stumbling block."

Pemberton went on to say that the film would involve characters such as Tubbs, Edward, and Pauline trying to see off a threat to the future of Royston Vasey village.

He also revealed that some of the film may be shot in Ireland or the Isle of Man in order to avoid the tighter tax laws that have recently been introduced in England.